MEAT .......

3rd January 2017
And now I have a sore throat and swollen glands ....... on the plus side I'm not so achy!
Christmas decorations came down today; the good thing about the natural decorations is they went straight on the compost heap.
So it's the start of a New Year and, as usual, healthy eating is on the menu! I made a jar of coleslaw (1 kilo cabbage, 15g salt) to start us off with healthy guts. I also refreshed my water and milk kefirs, which I have rather neglected recently. The Kombucha is fine, as I want it vinegary.
We have guests coming for dinner on Saturday, as one is a vegetarian I'm cooking veggie; today I made goat milk halloumi (clearing out the freezer ready for 1/2 ton of pork!).
Brett ordered a new chainsaw Sunday night - it arrived this afternoon, how's that for delivery? Only he didn't actually get it, the deliveryman demanded cash payment, but, as Brett had put his card details in when he ordered the chainsaw he was worried he'd be paying twice.

4th January
Lola & Vince brought a local man, Helder and his wife, Marijka (French lady who came to my studio opening, she also used to be a vet), round to look at our big boar ...... they're coming back, with a hunter, either tomorrow morning or Saturday afternoon - so we have lots if organising to do! Feeling rather stressed.
Brett has his chainsaw.

5th January
A total smallholding day .......
Georgia had her kid, the cutest little girl.

And big boar went!
I didn't watch his actual demise (he was done humanely) but I helped with the rest of the process. First he had to be lifted onto a makeshift bench - that was a feat in itself as we estimate he weighs around 200-250 kilos. 1. His bristles were burnt (blow torch) and scrapped off with bits of wood. 2. His skin was heated and the top layer scrapped with blunt knives, our black pig turned pink! 3. Using water and a piece of broken tile or cement block (like pumice stones) his skin was smoothed. 4. Rinsed. 5. Very sharp knives were used to shave off rogue bristles 6. Rinsed again. 7. Gutted. 8. Rinsed. 9. Hung up, in the pole barn, to dry.

The whole process took 3 - 4 hours. Then, of course, I had to feed everyone - homemade vegetable soup (I got up early this morning to make it!), cheese and meat board, chicken liver pate, ricotta cheese (made from whey, left over from making Halloumi) and bread (homemade in Lola's village), wine and beer.
Helder is concerned that wild dogs are going to come onto our quinta in the night and eat the boar, his solution - take him off the block and tackle, tie him to the top of a tall ladder, prop it up in the barn during the day then ...... Brett and I (!!!!!) carry it between us and store it in the workshop overnight????? Six of us could hardly lift him onto the bench ..... we vetoed that idea whilst giggling maniacally!

6th January
A full on day of butchery; we've processed about 1/3 of the meat and the freezer is half full.
I managed to break the food grinder on my lovely new stand mixer, can't find spare parts for it (and Amazon has stopped selling it) - feeling annoyed.
Georgia needed milking this evening as the kid is only drinking from one side. We could have done without that today.
Absolutely shattered.

7th January
Another full on day .....
First off I had to make chocolate mousse for dinner this evening (we hadn't arranged for the boar to go when we invited our guests).
Next butchering the middle 1/3 of the boar (bacon and chops section).

Then cleaning and tidying the house.
Finally preparing and cooking; spaghetti with Halloumi, sundries tomatoes and olives (all ours), mixed salad and garlic bread followed by caramelised oranges and chocolate mousse.
So tired .......
Then our guests arrived (Martin & Ann and Marc & Mieke). It was a pleasant evening but Brett and I were not terrible entertaining.

8th January
Butchered the final 1/3; the freezer is full to capacity,

we have a big ham (leg) drying in a box of salt and we have two slabs of belly being salted for bacon.
And we are absolutely shattered!!!!!
We paid the hunter 20€ for his work, but Helder (who we met for the first time on Wednesday) refused to take payment as we are 'as meus amigos' (my friends), so we took round a 5.5 kilo leg joint for him, his reaction ....... "why?", he just doesn't see why he needs payment for his services - Portuguese people are exceedingly generous. Brett is going to leave a joint for Mr Louis to find tomorrow morning,  on his way to work.

9th January
Brett went off to work and I thought I would have a not too strenuous day - wrong!
First I did all the animal (except pigs, Brett does them before he leaves) which nowadays I'm rather nervous of; the horned ram is decidedly bullish, he bowls over at least a couple of the flock whenever I'm in there, I spend my whole time making sure there's something between him and me!
Next the washing, that took two hours - I know precisely as there's a diary to note when the generator is switched on/off.
Receiving a disturbing email from Carmarthenshire County Council, that has left me very stressed and worried!
Then tidying, sweeping, cleaning the house.
Refreshing all the kefirs again! I just didn't have time to do it over the last few days.
Making fudge for Nick's birthday tomorrow.
In addition there's all manner of little jobs like cleaning the solar panels, milking the goat, turning and rubbing the bacon with salt, chopping wood and lighting the fire, continuing to render lard (don't know when I'll use it but I hate waste) etc.
All to soon it was time to do animals again .......
Oh yes, and cook dinner.

10th January
Happy Birthday Nick!
Brett went to work, I did my chores, at lunchtime Pam came and picked me up, we went into Penamacor to the Pizza restaurant to celebrate Nick's birthday - the meal was much better than the one served on my birthday!
This afternoon Bauble (Georgia's kid named by Jacob) went missing (I'd forgotten that little habit these kids have). Georgia came to the house to tell us, Brett had the generator on as he was doing the animal's water (the pump uses a lot of electricity), 1/2 an hour later we still hadn't found her and it was soon going to get dark, he turned the generator off and there she was, curled up behind the generator - 90 decibels and she was sleeping!!!
Tomorrow Brett is driving the tractor to Jo's so that they can use it to tension the fence. He has to drive down the tracks as the tractor is not allowed on the road - hope he doesn't get lost!

11th January
It took Brett 65 minutes to get to Jo's, but at least he didn't get lost - good old Google Earth!
It sucks being old!!!! Now I've got an aching hip, it started when I was kid hunting yesterday and it throbbed all night, I couldn't get comfortable; my joints haven't been right since I tripped over the barbed wire, they're kind of 'tender', but at least the sore throat has gone now.
It's hard for me to climb over the style into the goose field again; before Christmas it was my knee giving me jip (from being jostled and knocked by sheep), now it's my hip .........
When Brett was driving home on the tractor he met Fabia (Italian), she came round for a cup of tea and reiterated that she wants me to make a window for her yoga studio when it's built. She also asked about buying a couple of goat kids (Tinkerbell and Bauble), but Brett wants to keep females, to expand our milk flock.
We had our first boar meat this evening, tenderloin ..... and it was (tender)!

12th January
Well I should be very healthy, for lunch I had: fresh apple and orange with kefir cheese, sauerkraut and water kefir!
This afternoon I carded lots of wool.
The big horned ram is becoming more and more of a bully (I'm petrified of him) so we're dispatching him next Wednesday A&K are coming to help/give moral support.
What a small world I just came across my friend Helen (from our village in Wales, one of the 'Crafty Bitches') on a Facebook page (for spinning art yarn) based in America.

13th January
HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILLIAM!!! XXXXXXX
A bitterly, biting cold wind today; had we been in Wales I'd have predicted snow. It's probably snowing in the Estrellas; I didn't look at the mountains, when I fed the sheep, I was too busy watching horned ram (he seemed very interested in me this morning) and racing round quickly so I could get back inside.
Poor old Brett is working outside this morning,  I don't envy him.
The bacon is cured (five days of rubbing with salt).

14th January
Icy .......
A quick trip into CB to get the dog's worm pills (Lily is much better than she was).

15th January
I had to break the ice on the animal water.
Best night's sleep I've had for a while - if you don't count being woken up by Lily baying at 1.30!!!!! Something walked past ten house and her, very sensitive, hunting nose smelt it.
I did some spinning today, my most successful yet! I actually enjoyed it.
Shit, shit, shit I flossed my teeth, after dinner this evening, and a piece of filling came out - I hate going to the dentist.

16th January
Tooth seems fine - I'll put off the dentist trip for as long as possible!!!
So we got up early this morning and off we went to Fundao to buy poultry (black POL and Ross Cobs); we came back with nothing, the market was really sparse, the only POLs we saw were brown (Warren type) and looked really sickly and that was it, other than rabbits.
Ever since we bought the gas cooker I have harangued it and moaned loudly, about it burning everything, to anyone who would listen ........ at Christmas I learned that when thought I was turning it down I was actually turning it UP! Today I cooked brownies in it and they cooked perfectly in 40 minutes!

17th January
We had a fabulous craft meeting last evening. Tina showed/taught us how to make felted wrist warmers (mitts) and, as I was the host, I got to keep the demonstration pair!

Brett started pruning the olive trees - he's making a brilliant job of it.


18th January
Very cold today, nearly 1" of ice on the animal's water.
Horned ram went today; we borrowed a stun gun which made the job humane and very quick. Alex & Karina came to help and offer moral support. The whole process went very smoothly.

Removing the fleece

He'll hang for 3-5 days

YOU SPIN ME RIGHT ROUND .........

18th December
Making Christmas crackers.

19th December
A quick trip into Spain to buy some nice Christmas food and drink (anchovies, razor clams, spring onions, sherry .....).
Finished making crackers.

20th December
And today into CB to finish food shopping and that's it, no more shopping hopefully until the New Year.
Present wrapping this afternoon and I'm so frustrated - the stupid sellotape doesn't stick and we purposely bought it from Jumbo rather than a China shop!
Chicken liver pate made.
I made some Chai tea concentrate, as I don't fancy coffee in the evenings.
CHAI TEA CONCENTRATE:
Simmer together in for 20 minutes:
1 pint water
2-3 ozs muscovado sugar
2-3" fresh ginger (cut into thin slices)
15 cloves
5 allspice
1 tspn black peppercorns
2 tspn cardamom seeds
3 star anise
1 tspn vanilla extract
Take off heat, add 5 teabag (being me I used 8 used teabags!) and seep for 10 minutes.
Strain liquid off, when cool bottle and keep in fridge.
To make a cup of chai mix 1 part chai concentrate, 1 part water and 2 parts milk in a saucepan, heat to taste.

21st December
I am shattered; for some reason my house tidying turned into a major 'spring clean', I even cleaned the oven! But the house does look clean and tidy.

22nd December
L&J arrived at lunchtime - let the festivities begin .....

23rd December
Happy Birthday me!!!
I had a lovely day doing crafty things with Lesley - decorations for house, table etc. Drying slices of oranges and clementines (lovely smell).

Brett and Jacob did 'man' things, like driving the tractor and mucking out the animals.
We went into Penamacor this evening; the idea was to eat, walk around the market, and watch the huge bonfire being lit at midnight - it didn't quite go to plan ...... The market was practically non existent, the restaurant was heaving so service was slow and for some reason our food was cold/uncooked (so pretty poor, it's usually good there - but, in a way, it added to the strange evening) and we (not just me it was a group decision) didn't last until midnight*! However we still had fun, we went into the Hub (pop up bar) were I was handed a beaker of Bailey's (birthday treat) by Jamie - which definitely helped!
* Later we spoke to friends who went to the midnight event; they said it was heaving with people, masses of things going on (people on stilts, people dressed in illuminated butterfly costumes (why?), bands, children acting out the nativity etc etc). It all started around 11.30 (when we were snuggily back home).

24th December
A full on day of Christmas preparation making/preparing: trifle (one with and one without sherry), turkey into brine (on the decking),

ham out of brine (boiled and baked), mince pies, finish bacon, stuffing, bacalhau (traditional Christmas eve meal in Portugal) - I am shattered, but everything is prepared (thanks to all my helpers) and the house looks and smells lovely.

Merry Christmas ......

25th December
Merry Christmas ......
Well I had some amazing presents:- from Brett I had a spinning wheel (now I have to learn to spin properly!),

Not my actual one (that still needs to be assembled).

it was the year of scarves (I gave two and received three), and too many more to mention.
Diane & Thomas came for drinks at midday and P&M joined us for lunch.

We ate too much food! We played Christmas games and, once P&M had gone, we relaxed in front of the fire and watched 'Home Alone'.

Jacob had an interesting present, it went in the fire to make colored flames.

26th December
We took L&J to Monsanto, which they loved.
Oh dear this poor man, for some obscure reason, had decided to drive into the village - the streets are incredibly narrow (it's medieval) with lots of large stones, doorsteps, window sills and balconies jutting into them, they are also very bendy and terribly steep. He was stuck across a road attempting (and failing) to turn around - several people were advising him. We went for a drink, 1/2 an hour later he was still there but now with a shattered wing mirror and a large dent in his passenger's door. Someone was directing him as he backed down the road (he couldn't see because of his broken mirror).
Jacob enjoyed Home Alone so much that Brett found 'Mousehunt' for him this evening.

27th December
L&J's five day visit passed very swiftly, they left just before lunch; Lesley took some lovely photos before they went,

Tinkerbell practicing her circus routine!

Grazing geese....

we loved having them, they we 'easy' guests, and look forward to them coming back (hopefully in the summer?).
This afternoon I spent trying to spin ...... I HATE it, I'm absolutely rubbish at it - I hope Brett is correct and that I will improve with practice!

28th December
A quick trip into CB and then another relaxing afternoon.
We're still trying to get through all the Christmas food!

29th December
Happy Birthday Karina xxx
Pam came round to help me with my spinning (I was threatening to burn my wheel!). She can't actually spin(!) however, me trying to teach her actually helped me to realise that I had progressed a lot since I first started (two days ago). I am now able to draft (tease out) the wool much better, control the twist (kind of) and get the yarn wound onto the bobbin. I was using a small skein of beautifully prepared wool that came with my wheel. Now I have to learn to do it with real sheepwool (straight off the sheep).
Karina is going to let me have some of her wool to work with, until our sheep are sheared. It didn't register, when we bought our first sheep, that our brown ewes are a breed called Black Merino - Merino wool is a highly prized for spinning, weaving and knitting; it's a lovely soft wool that can be worn close to the skin.

30th December
It's not that I'm particularly clumsy, it's just that once I start falling I can't save myself - I was taking a short cut across someone else's land, there was barbed wire at ankle height (hidden amongst grass), it wrapped around my feet and there I was, splat, on the ground ..... feeling a bit teary, vulnerable and achy!
We went to A&K's today to pick up some wool, I was given a bottle of Karina's rather special plum wine for my birthday (very happy!).
So I started carding the washed wool K&A gave me (the rest is soaking in a tub of water from the washing I did today) and my one of my carders snapped in half (along the grain)!!!! Brett cut a piece of wood to patch it with, hopefully it will work.

31st December
Achy in all my joints .......
Hoorah, Brett's carder repair worked! So I carded a few rollags for spinning tomorrow.
P&M hosted a NYE party; we arrived at 8.00, by 10.00 I was asking if it was nearly midnight, time dragged ....... at midnight we celebrated, then suddenly it was 2.00, time sped up. It was a good night, I think I spoke to everyone at the party.

1st January 2017
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!
Karina & Alex's dog, Mishka, disappeared two months ago; she returned home today ..... very pregnant!!!!
I made some very knobby yarn from K&A's sheep's wool

it's a start! I've been 'researching' (mainly browsing Pinterest!) spinning techniques, troubleshooting etc and come across ART YARN and weaving with Art Yarn (so, of course, now I want a loom!) - it's yarn that embraces the 'imperfections'; so it's lumpy, bumpy, thick, thin, smooth, wispy, and it can be made into fabulous shawls, throws, bags etc ........ but first I have to learn to spin properly, so that I can control what I produce.

2nd January
Still achy (feel almost fluey!).
In the last year or so I read an article on dyeing fabric with Kool-Aid (a horrible powder mix for drinking), I can't get actual Kool-Aid but bought something I think must be similar; however I never got around to using it (bet you know where this is going!). I want to try dyeing some of my yarn, I thought this would be a good experiment to use the 'Kool-Aid' with; I have hunted 'high and low', in the kitchen, living room and studio (I even took this as an opportunity to tidy the studio), and can't find the bloody stuff - so frustrating.

When will I start feeling Christmasy ............

23rd November
It's turned very cold, there's snow on the mountains.
When I was feeding and letting out the animals this morning I caught sight of a dog sized creature in the sheep's field; the sheep and goats seemed fine, no panicking or milling around, just peacefully grazing. So I thought no more about it, until this afternoon when Brett brought one of our lambs in. She has two deep puncture wounds, one in each buttock. I only got a glimpse of the animal, I had the impression it was a dog but it could have been a large fox (I wonder if it's the same creature that ate the goose eggs?). This evening all the young lambs, kids and mums are shut up in the maternity shed! Very, very, very worried ......

24th November
Nothing untoward happened in the sheep field overnight (relieved, but not relaxed).
I've been making all these cards recently; I literally have to cut and bend card to size and shape as there's nothing like the Works/Range etc hereabouts, so no access to card blanks - not a big range of envelopes available either. So today I had to make three lots of different sized envelopes - feeling achieved!
It was a beastly evening, forecast to continue all night and all tomorrow. Our older sheep and goats were in the large field with only trees for shelter as we'd moved the their shed outside the field for the babies and mums. At 11.00 p.m. we were feeling guilty that they were exposed to the elements so we cleared space for them in the pole barn then ...... I just opened the gate and called them, out of the pitch black twelve pairs of glowing eyes (I was wearing my head torch) rushed towards me, they seemed very happy to be in the barn.

25th November
Brett says that was the worst night we've experienced here; torrential non stop rain and wind. And the wind is bitterly cold.
Lily refuses to leave the house, she has to be shouted at to get her outside for a toilet break - she can 'hold it' for an awfully long time!
We fed and let out the animals, then lit the fire and candles (solar is being rationed) - it's like living in a cave!
I spent the day sitting in front of the fire, wearing my head torch, drawing on pieces of lino.
We're hoping to start olive picking soon.

26th November
Still stormy, wet, windy weather. No olive picking today!
I made baked beans on (sourdough) toast for lunch (comfort food!).
I managed a few hours in the studio this afternoon.
Our sheep and goats are so good. While it's been stormy we've had the whole flock (18) around the house (so they have shelter) but in the evening we shut the mother's with recent offspring in the shed (because of the lamb* attack three days ago). We split them up when we give them their evening meal (just a handleful of pellets to keep them tame); the mothers know they're special and will follow me into the corral, whilst the rest follow Brett with the bucket.
* The lamb is healing nicely, fingers crossed it won't happen again.
The downside of having the sheep and goats around the house is that they have eaten all my herbs (Brett had to take my fencing away to build the solar shed); I'm hoping the plants will think they've just been hard pruned and will grow back
vigorously!

27th November
Still too wet to pick olives.
Brett rearranged the sheds over by the vegetable garden so that the shed at the back can be used by the sheep and goats, overnight, when it's wet.
The winter squash are keeping well and are now on shelves in the big shed which looks rather impressive with the squash, trays of potatoes, trays of sweet potatoes, 5L bottles of olive oil and bottles of wine.

28th November
Brett at work.
I did all the chores, then cleared all my clothes and material, from the sleep platform, to the loft over the work shop - up and down stairs lots of times carrying heavy boxes (shattered). Now I have to sort out the boxes and try to throw stuff away!

29th November
Brett at work.
Feeling a bit crap; I had a headache all night, woke up with it and feeling sick.
Pam came round for coffee, which helped as it stopped me dwelling on feeling rough, and stayed for lunch; so we had a good old chat - I can't believe she's leaving ...
Bloody goose pecked me as I was putting them away - I have a big black bruise on my arm.

30th November
Judith (she owns a 20+ acre quinta just outside the village) came to lunch today; she's very interested in knitting, crochet, embroidery etc. so she's coming to our craft group meeting next week (Weds 7th).

1st December
Soddin' hunters all around us at 7.00, pellets raining down on the roof! Today is a bank holiday which is why the hunters are out in force.
Hooray the generator works! I can't use it for the kiln yet, it's got to be run in for 20 hours. Even though it's raining outside and there's no solar and we have electricity courtesy of the new generator. It's much cheaper to run than the old one as it's diesel and, hopefully, we'll be able to get a card for green diesel which will make it cheaper still.

2nd December
We need the weather to improve so we can pick olives, apparently it's a bad year so we might only manage half as much as last year.
I think I'm losing my marbles! Today I made a kefir cheese cheesecake, looked and tasted good - then I realised I'd forgotten to add the kefir cheese! I had to ladle the filling off the base, mix in the cheese and pour it back on the base - doesn't look so good now! 3 hours later ....... I grated chocolate on top, looked good and tasted wonderful (and, because of the kefir, good for you!).

3rd December
The weather deteriorated throughout the day, so we put the sheep in their new shed; a couple were a bit nervous, but greed prevailed. So they're now snugly ensconced in a warm, dry, shed with lots of food whilst the weather rages outside and we can relax!

4th December
An ok hunting day (distant shots can be heard) and the sun came out.
We had a couple of hours olive picking (60 kgs) this morning, then Annika & John (people Brett works for) treated us and C&D to lunch in Meimoa (absolutely stuffed!).

5th & 6th December
Two more days olive picking and we've barely managed another 40 kilos (100 kilos total) it really is an abysmal year - we'll probably find all the mills have shut early now too!
I've gone off the horned ram; since he attacked Brett I've been quite wary of him. I obviously got too complacent, and let my guard down yesterday - he butted me from behind, knocking me off my feet, fortunately Brett was there, as he was revving up for another attack - he's got to go .....

7th December
I got up early to make fudge for this evening.
We took our pathetic harvest to the mill, the guy there said it was a "muito mal" (very bad) year for olives; he didn't even quibble about taking them even though: (1) we're not in his area (we're Penamacor, the mill is Idanha a Nova), but we did go there last year after some haggling and (2) they normally ask for a minimum of 500 kgs, to get your own oil back. We'll be luck to get 12 litres this year.
My friend, Jo, sent me a parcel ....... boots and fabric dyes (thank you Jo xxxx).

I think the red laces will have to go!

I spent the afternoon preparing the studio for Craft Club, I even washed the floor!

8th December
Happy Birthday Mark (I think!).
We had great fun and merriment, last evening, making stars and wreaths out of old books and pages from magazines.

Karina and Mary displaying their wares .....

My wreaths, the one on the left has 3D stars on it.

This morning I had to tidy the studio - my goodness what a mess, and the floor .......
Brett is working today and tomorrow.
Feeling virtuous ..... I've written all my UK cards and will post them in the morning - my writing deteriorated rapidly over the evening!

9th December
Cards posted.
And quite a few Christmas presents purchased as Pam took me into CB today - now I'm feeling smug! Except none of the presents were for people in UK, those I still have to source.

10th December
I spent a fruitless day trying to find presents to send to family in UK - feeling frustrated!

11th December
Lots of hunters around today, fortunately not shooting too close but they were walking through some of the neighboring quintas.
I'm dyeing a couple of dresses with the dye Jo sent me.

12th December
I was quite excited this morning as I was bartering produce this afternoon (sweet potato for horseradish roots and eggs for lemons). Originally the lady (who I'd never met) sugessted one potato for a root and she had about six, so that was fine. Then this morning she said she had 10 roots for me, so I put together over a dozen large sweet potatoes and threw in a butternut squash (I was feeling generous) - look what I got in return!!!!!!

The decking planks are less than 4" wide!

Three proper roots at best, a few broken roots and some tiddlers - I feel like I've been diddled!
At least Bap gave me a dozen lemons for six eggs.

13th December
A quick (very foggy) trip into CB to get electric wire fixings, so that we can put the pigs into their new enclosure - moving them should be entertaining as Brett is convinced he can lead them past all the lush growth (grass, weeds etc) and other obstacles with a bucket of food!
Christmas is coming ..... the ham is being brined.
Oh dear our internet router has died; we're back to very slow, intermittent, village Wifi, whilst standing in the open doorway, .........
This means I won't be able to post my blog any time soon.
We even checked that we paid our last bill (yep, on 23rd Nov) BUT, of course, we can't find the receipt (and we paid cash); so let's hope we've not been cut off.
This evening we joined A&K at Sasha & Chris's for an Iranian meal; an aubergine and chicken stew (very tasty), crispy rice and salad.

14th December
Lola and I went to an office in Penamacor to try to get us a card for green diesel (like red diesel in uk), we would save 20-30 cents a litre. Unfortunately the guy said our tractor needed to be matriculated (licenced to drive on the road), which it isn't - so now we need to try to matriculate it (but the guy said it was very complicated). I took Lola to O Cave for lunch, to say thank you for trying (she was my interpreter).
Lobby, the bitch, ran off this evening; last time she did this was in the summer (August 21st to be precise) so we've let our guard down. It's worrying because several people we know have lost dogs (and because they're lost you never know what's happened to them). Fortunately she was back within two hours and is now in 'the dog house'!

15th December
Well I take it back, operation 'pig move' worked a treat; big boar followed Brett and the bucket, I kept the other two following by gesticulating and waving the shepherd's crook. We now have three very happy pigs in over an acre of scrub - I wonder how long it will take them to clear it!

Spot the pigs (there's two pigs in this photo)

Big boar .....

Ok, UK presents ordered and paid for (internet shopping) - I'm no longer smug about my Christmas shopping!
This evening we watched 'Gravity' (Sandra Bullock and George Clooney); I spent the whole film tensed and holding my breath!!!
It was tipping it down with rain when the film finished, we started worrying about the sheep and goats so ...... head torches and wellies on and a bucket of food, up we trudged to their field, called, and, with Sharon in the lead, the whole flock ran straight into their shed (it was rather hard to count all eighteen with them milling around, but we're confident they're all in there) and now we can sleep comfortably in our bed knowing they're safe and warm. On the way back Brett checked on the pigs - they had found their shelter and were sensibly sleeping inside.
Apart from the lack of solar we don't mind this weather as long as our animals are comfortable.
Brett is working tomorrow.

16th December
I had a restless night; I spent it rehearsing moving the sheep from the shed to the field, on my own, whilst avoiding the horned ram (round and round my head it went all night).
When the actual event happened it was easy - they were so interested in their food they went straight into their field (after all that rehearsal I forgot the shepherd's crook - it was to ward off horned ram if he attacked!).
Bloody hell there's an icy wind blowing off the mountains; why did I choose today to do the washing? Working outside on the decking, plunging my hands into lukewarm/cold water, was not nice.
This evening we watched 'Pride' a feelgood film.

17th December
A quick trip to CB to exchange our router, and now we're back online!

LINOCUTS ........

31st October
Happy Halloween/Samhain ......
We went into CB to buy the electrical stuff to wire up the studio/workshop for lighting ready for the first spinning group meeting on Thursday.
While we were in Lidl I bought a bag of sweets for any 'trick or treaters' that might come to the quinta (well the Portuguese equivalent that they do on 1st Nov, All Saint's Day), Brett says I'm wasting my time and money!!!

1st November
All Saint's Day
Of course we didn't get and 'trick or treaters'!
Brett continueded the wiring whilst I rearranged the studio so that I have the table for electrical tools (solder iron, light box, grinder etc) close to the plug sockets - it actually looks much more spacious now.
I keep trying different ways to use the milk kefir - I find it rather acidic in shakes and cream cheese; today I made it into cheesecake (happy Brett).
By the end of the day I had usable lights (happy me!).

2nd November
Day of the Dead
I made chocolate fridge cake (for spinning club), chicken liver pate (for taking to dinner at P&M's on Friday), barbecued ribs (for tonight's dinner).
I leaded up my latest roundel (the one with a slice of agate); hopefully I'll have time to solder it tomorrow.
The Kefir cheesecake is actually ok (as I made it lemony anyway), so at last I've found a way to use milk kefir. Fortunately I really like the water kefir.

3rd November
Brett wired up the sockets in the workshop/studio ready for the arrival of the generator.
We had a few last minute cancellations for spinning and ended up with six participants (well five participants and Lola who came for the gossip and wine!) - me, Mary, Sasha, Jo & Karina. It was a jolly meeting we all (not Lola) managed to spin some wool with a potato and knitting needle. As Jo doesn't drink alcohol I gave her water kefir; after drinking a litre she was drunk!!!! It's less than 0.5% alcohol (sorry Jo!).
Brett had a male gathering, in the house (Vince, Chris and two sons); it was gone midnight when people left.

4th November
Heavy rain; we took the afternoon off, lit the range and watched a film 'Anomalisa' - weird!
We, along with Thomas & Diane, were invited to dinner at P&M's unfortunately Diane's car broke down so they couldn't come (we did offer to pick them up).
Pam had sorted all her surplus clothes to sell ready for their move, I got first choice - I spent 50€.

5th November
Karina knows of a knitting machine for sale, so we (Karina, Jo and me) went to look at it. It turned out it was being sold by an English woman (Anna) in Medelim. Unfortunately it couldn't cope with our homespun wool, so I'm a bit undecided (Karina and Jo are keener); I would be very interested in a spinning wheel though!

6th November
It's getting decidedly chilly overnight.
Jo & Gordon need some fencing doing while they are away, we took Chris to meet them this morning and talk about the job. Came away with lunch - two parasol mushrooms.
Lazy day today as Brett is working for Annika Monday and Tuesday.

7th November
Ice on the animal's water this morning.
I spent most of the morning cleaning out the fridge; Brett keeps complaining there's no space in there (it's all my milk kefir, water kefir grains and various preserves he's actually moaning about!). Anyway I threw lots out (well in the pig bucket) so it's quite roomy now.
I had an email from our estate agents asking us to contact Utility Warehouse re an unpaid bill. I phoned UW, of course they wouldn't give me any particulars, as the bill isn't in our name, but they're inferring that our last tenants left with outstanding debts. Now WE have to send UW all kinds of paperwork, to prove we're not liable for the debt and to make sure the service isn't interrupted as we have a new tenant being vetted atm.

8th November
Another icy start to the day. Brett working.
Horrible finish to the day ......

9th November
Well we weren't expecting that ..... Trump being elected as President of USA (rather like Brexit!).
It was bookclub today, but I didn't go, as I wasn't feeling sociable.

10th November
Jo & Gordon treated us to lunch at O Cave, I ate far too much (soup and bread roll, squid, chips and salad, fruit salad (which I left) and coffee - phew I was full (7€ a head everything included - I could have had a lite of wine too!).
I spent several hours shelling the walnuts that Lola gave us, it's a jolly long winded job.
This evening I tried out the long looms that Pam and I bought ages ago - I'm making some leg warmers.

11th November
I cut a linoprint design (3 plates) for this year's Christmas card and started printing it up.

Brett is getting a new area ready for the pigs (behind the studio/workshop) .

12th November
Twelve Christmas cards printed and another design (using gelli plate) started -I LOVE MY STUDIO!!!!!

Brett watched rugby - I played in studio, fab day.
We were contemplating going to the wine and liqueur festa in San Migel De Acha this evening, but, as we were eating dinner, it started raining heavily - and that made our decision!

13th November
I don't like to tempt fate but ..... it's the 3rd month of hunting and Sundays have been blissfully quiet so far.
We went to the carboot sale (as customers not sellers), it was very small; same bric a brac we've seen before, plus a food stall and preserve stall - bought nothing. But I have bartered a nuno felt stole for a stained glass panel!
Carried on with Christmas cards.

14th November
Brett at work
Karina and Emily came to pick up some of our Muscovy ducklings; as we were catching them I got a nasty wound on my little finger (muscovy's have sharp claws on their feet), it bled for ages (and is rather painful).
This evening we volunteered to take Judith and her dog to the vet's in Penamacor ....... after we'd been waiting for about 10 minutes (you have to arrive early) a man turned up to say the vet wouldn't be coming as he's in Argentina.

15th November
Brett at work.
I had a long list of chores to do including sending all the necessary paperwork to the estate agents; I needed to print a risk assessment form off the internet - typically, today, the internet stopped working! But I did do the washing, make bread

(sour dough, thank you Karina) make kefir cheese, design and cut a new Linocut for Christmas cards, shell acorns and leave to leach (tanning) in water, plus my daily chores.

16th November
Bloody estate agent, every year they ask us for more and more information (never keeping a copy of what they've already had) today I posted a letter that weighed 65g (4 stamps) and we use thin paper! They needed proof that we owned the house (they've been letting it out for us for 4 years!), 2 proofs of identity for Brett, risk assessment for Legionella, electrical certificate, insurance certificate, energy efficiency rating (or whatever it's called) certificate for the house, two page form filled in re all other information needed, it just went on and on, makes me very cross .......

17th November
Bloody sheep!!!! I was feeding them this morning, they had an altercation and somehow I got bashed in the side of my knee - now I can hardly walk!
Today was a bitter sweet day; we said goodbye to a friend who died last week. His ashes were scattered at his quinta. We had a nice little informal ceremony; his family said a few words, we toasted his memory and went for a meal.
My goodness be careful what you put on social media. Our estate agents wrote to us today with links to our prospective tenant and her boyfriend's Facebook pages; they have told massive lies on their application form and the estate agents 'strongly advise' that we don't approve their application unless certain conditions are met.

18th November
Brett is building a shed at the front of the house to house our solar equipment and a freezer.
I work on Christmas cards whilst limping a lot.

These are gelliprints not lino prints (the Merry Christmas is on a different card!)

Obviously ditto!

19th November
We got rid of some more Muscovys, so now they all fit in their shed - it was getting quite a squeeze.
Brett watched rugby so I spent my time in the studio on a new linocut which I hope I will be able to use on glass (if the new generator ever arrives!!!!!) and paper/card.

We had a lovely evening at Vince & Lola's, didn't get home until after midnight (which is really good for me as I usually fall asleep around 11!).

20th November
I heard two shots in the distance .......
Raining more or less all day. I worked in the studio while Brett cooked lunch, then we watched Briget Jones's Baby - very predictable! And this evening we watched The Girl on the Train - not as good as the book.

21st November
Gloomy, rainy, no solar charging going on .......
I printed some greeting cards (from my new linocut) for my craft stock.

Jolly chilly tonight .......

22nd November
The generator arrived today, all 170 kilos (that's 374lbs) of it! And we had to get it off our truck. Fortunately we bought a block and tackle the other day (in preparation for pig butchering) which made the process quite easy.
The solar shed floor is concreted; it won't take Brett long to build the walls. He'll finish the boiler shed at the same time - which means soon we could have a proper shower!!!
Some dastardly critter has eaten all our goose eggs! Mrs Goose has been laying eggs in her nest (the same nest she was flooded out of last time she tried to sit); last count there were ten eggs in there. After I had put them away this evening I looked to see if she'd laid any more and the nest was empty. Something has taken at least ten eggs; there were no shells or debris left, just an empty nest.......

AUTUMN BABIES ........

8th October
I went to feed the ewe this morning and the lamb was dead; now, of course, we're questioning and berating ourselves - why didn't we check it was feeding properly (I'm sure I saw it feeding, it had it's head up under the ewe and it's tail was wagging), not that we know why it died, it was very small and thin, very sad (but as the saying says "where there's livestock there's dead stock!). Feeling bad .....
And to make us feel worse our cat has disappeared; we haven't seen her since Monday or Tuesday - we're kind of hoping she's down at the new peoples (rather than being trapped somewhere or dead), but I've called and called in that direction so it's not looking good.

9th October
Today we went for lunch to Nicky and Rich's (they're back for a few weeks); we had a barbecue and came home laden with fruit and bread for the pigs (we took them winter squash and sweet potatoes).

10th October
9.00 ALL the goats and sheep had been fed and were hanging around the troughs (hoping for seconds?).

10.00 We were taking the second lot of sweet potatoes over to the sheds for storage, as usual all the goats and sheep followed us up the track - bar one, no sign of Hazel ....... found her standing next to her new born kid!!!! Another Mini-me, very cute AND she's definitely feeding!

So Brett saw Margo in her garden this afternoon and asked if she'd seen our cat, "oh yes, she's inside asleep on the sofa" was her reply - they've bloody well stolen her!!!! Now we've got to get her back without falling out with them.

11 October
Autumn has arrived; there's a definite chill in the air and the sun has disappeared. I am wearing layers with a jumper, leggings, socks and boots. And making, warm, nourishing, soup (from our own veg - carrots, squash and onions).
Poor old Lily had to go to the vet's this evening; she's such a stoic little dog, she just stood there while he did all kinds of nasty things to her, she didn't whimper, snap or snarl - bless her. I love that little bitch .......
Yay, we have RAIN!!!!!

12th October
We had to go into CB today as Brett needed to go to the dentist; his latest filling had fallen out (he wasn't charged to replace it). I bought an umbrella (as it was pouring with rain and we needed one). Then we treated ourselves to lunch out; we actually got it half price as the kebab restaurant has a loyalty card which is stamped each time you eat there and we had enough stamps for a free meal.

13th October
Pam came round for a sewing day (I copied the pattern of a dress she bought when we went back to the UK).
Our cat graced us with her presence for about half an hour this afternoon - she's FAT!!!!! Goodness knows how much they're feeding her, and she probably sleeps all day too, I need to have words with them.
5.00 Brett started feeling queasy ........ then he started being violently ill.
I ate supper on my own (Brett went to bed 6.30ish).

14th October
I went to bed feeling fine but not able to sleep, then I started feeling queasy, 4.00 a.m. I started with the violent expulsions ........
OMG have I poisoned Pam? We had soup, bread and cheese for lunch yesterday. Phew, I checked she was fine! So I'm blaming the Kebab lunch we had on Wednesday!
We spent most of the day in bed feeling pretty rough. At 7.00 we had a slice of toast and a cup of tea. 8.30 I went to bed.
Fingers crossed we feel rejuvenated in the morning.

15th October
I had a brilliant night's sleep, got up at 8.00. Did the animals (found a sheep and her black lamb in the shed with Hazel and her kid!).
9.30 Hazel comes bleating up to the house, she's lost her kid; I searched to no avail, not worried yet as she did this last time - the kids go to sleep in the scrub behind the studio and are very well camouflaged.
10.00 went to check on Brett, who wasn't up; apparently he had a rotten night, up every 20 mins, so still feeling rough.
We checked the sheep had milk and that it was coming out, the lamb appears to be feeding and it has a round belly, so fingers crossed it'll be ok.
11.30 kid found.
12.00 kid lost ....... this went on all day, and each time she was lost Hazel came to the house to tell us!
I finished my dress and dyed it.

This evening I had a bit of a relapse, just feeling queasy and headachy.

16th October
Still not 100%!
I spent the morning in the shed finding stuff to carboot next Saturday.
Hazel spent all day coming to the house to tell us her kid was missing. We've found the kid's hiding place, behind a pallet of bags of cement in the pole barn; but, regardless of how many times we show her, Hazel never looks there!
I spent time in the studio on another sandblasted panel.

17th October
Our stomachs are still feels a bit queasy when we eat, but we're not ill any longer.
Today we foraged some Chicken of the Woods - don't know when we'll fancy eating it though!

I leaded up most of my panel, I might even get it soldered tomorrow?
Well after saying I didn't fancy it we had the Chicken of the woods for dinner, in a creamy cheese sauce with pasta twists - it was absolutely delicious!
Poor old Lil is 'not right', we'll take her to a different vet tomorrow (one who speaks English).

18th October
Happy Birthday LOOBY - today is her official birthday as we have had her 3 years today.
I didn't get any glass done as we had to take Lily to the vet.
OMG Lily has been showing symptoms for a couple of months, we've wormed her, had her anal glands emptied and today took her to a vet in Castelo Branco ....... she (the vet) says all her symptoms point to roundworms (which we had originally diagnosed) but that the worming treatment (injection) we have been getting from the Penamacor vet doesn't actually treat these worms (it is made for farm animals not pets!) - so all this time we haven't been protecting our dogs from worms! They now have to be treated every 3 months; thank goodness they're easy to give pills to.

19th October
I leaded up my first 'Hare' panel - I'm going to make a series.

Another black lamb born today - it's going to be crowded in the maternity shed this evening!

20th October
We dismantled the swimming pool - it wasn't nearly as much fun as assembling it!
Brett had his first bonfire (we were forbidden up to 16th Oct because of fire risk).
I soldered my Hare panel and masked off the sandblasting in preparation for cementing (my least favorite job).
Mini-me, goat kid (renamed Tinkerbell), is so cute; whilst we are milking her mother she insists on sitting on my lap - it drives the dogs made with jealousy!

21st October
I can't believe I'm still feeling queasy, it's over a week now.
We've had a few drab days so the solar is really low - fridge and freezer turned off.

22nd October
We were up early (7.00) to go to the carboot sale. The animals were perplexed as it was still dark (and pouring with rain) as we let them out and fed them.
We arrived to set up at 8.15, bringing Nicky and Rich with us. There were only four other stalls (Pete & Alan, Dee & Craig, Gary and a Swedish group selling milk kefir products) i.e. six in total.
It was very slow going, but picked up around 11.00, we took around 80€; although it was advertised 9.00-15.00 we (and everyone else) left around 13.00 as it had gone very quiet.
I masked off another Hare design (boxing hares) ready for sandblasting.
Sharon wasn't interested in food this evening, we think she might give birth tonight (of course it's torrential rain out there!).

23rd October
Brett checked Sharon before he came to bed, I went out in the early hours, no sign of a kid and she's eating - OMG Brett checked her over this morning - she's got blowfly under her tail! We brought her into the pole barn, cleaned her up and applied lots of products (insect killer, antibiotic etc) and she now seems much happier.
I always seem to be complaining about my woes, today it's back ache - I can hardly walk. We think it's from yesterday when I tripped at the carboot.
I cemented the Hare panel, made some wide heart lead so that I can plate a piece of glass with a slice of agate, to make another roundal.

24th October
Sharon spent a peaceful night.
We went into CB as the weather was atrocious. We didn't need much, but had lunch out (avoiding the kebab place!). I had a strawberry and banana smoothie (though it was more like a slush puppy) my goodness I got the most horrendous brain freeze ...... my head was pounding, my vision blurred (I thought I was having a stroke!), it lasted for several minutes, needless to say I didn't finish my lunch.
Evenings are now spent in candlelight as the solar isn't being charged during these wet, gloomy days.

25th 0ctober
Raining, dull, dismal .....

26th October
Happy Birthday Lawrence xxxxxx
Alfie (our friends' dog) has started chasing our sheep, today he had cornered one of the lambs; we've told them twice now, can't think how we're going to resolve this without falling out (because we've shot their dog!).
We took some of our ducklings to Alex & Karina and now their neighbours want to buy some from us.
Cut out another roundel, using the plated slice of agate as the center.
Sharon is improving daily; today she came into the workshop a couple of times and started helping herself to food!

27th October
I got up and dressed like I've been dressing for the past couple if weeks - underwear, vest, leggings, dress, jumper, socks and boots. By 11.00 I had decided I was ill, I was obviously running a fever I was sweating so much ...... then Brett pointed out it was 27C!!!!!
I made a batch of Tomatillo chutney; Jo & Gordon came for coffee, Gordon kept saying how good the chutney smelt - if we see them before they go he will have a jar for his birthday present (I like a man that appreciates chutney!).
Brett dug the footings for the battery shed
I dug up the last of the sweet potatoes.

28th October
We visited a newly arrived family, as they had bales of hay for sale. Unfortunately the hay was drenched in the rain last week. They have a fabulous plot; it's very close to Spain, bordering a lake, with far reaching views - just stunning.

29th October
Happy Birthday Gordon. X
I spent ALL DAY cleaning and cooking - I was knackered by the time our guests arrived (Andrew, Chris & Do, Stuart & Helen). We tried to make it, as much as possible, a quinta grown meal - chicken (yep) cooked in milk (goat's) with sage (yes) and garlic for the meat eaters, chicken of the woods (foraged from track to quinta) 'stroganoff' for the veggies, roasted sweet potatoes (oh yes!) and chard (it's sprung up since the rain), chocolate mousse (our eggs). They arrive before 7.00, I left them and went to bed at 12.30, I think they left around 2.00 a.m. We consumed .....17 bottles of beer, 4L of white wine and 3-4 bottles of red wine!!!

30th October
A rather relaxed day today.
We found some parasol mushroom for lunch;

we had them, cooked in garlic butter, on toast - delicious.
This evening I made chai from scratch (cardamom pods, fresh ginger, cinnamon stick, cloves, peppercorns, black tea, sugar, water, milk) it was really good.

31st October
Trip into CB to get electrical stuff to wire up the studio/workshop.
Ok Mark you can stop nagging, I've updated!!!!!

LAMBING ....... AGAIN!!!!!

13th September
My last day in UK, back to Portugal tomorrow.
Poor old Will was ill all night and all today (so I didn't get to spend much time with him).
I had fun with Alexandra and Lawrence, when they came home, making a cardboard house and car for 'Mary the tooth fairy' (she writes letters to Alexandra).
Ok so I topped up by £20 (which included a 40 minute bundle to phone Brett) on Wednesday evening (when I arrived six days ago), I had used all that credit by this morning (as soon as my 40 minute bundle went I was paying £1 per minute to call Brett!). I topped up by another £20 (again with a 40 minute bundle), I phone Brett this evening and was cut off after 7 minutes (exactly) and now have no credit ..... Not even enough to phone Orange to complain (costs 25p) and they don't have a 'contact us' email address - I am totally fed up.

14th September
Will drove me to Collumpton, about 1/2 an hour from him, near to where Pam has been staying all week (!), so that Pam could drive us to the airport (it seemed a waste of Will's time to take me).
And then we nearly missed our plane!!!!!! We arrived at the airport in plenty of time, did a little shopping (we both bought new phones - they're unlocked and take two Sim cards at the same time). I topped up and phoned Orange - they were having problems yesterday, I was compensated with the £20 top up (from yesterday), including the 40 minute bundle! So I phoned Brett (to try to use it up), then Pam phoned Mark, then we went for a coffee, then there was an announcement "this is the last call for the Bristol to Lisbon flight" ............ then we had to RUN with our bags to the boarding gate, it seemed like we'd been 'running' (fast waddling walk more like) for miles when we passed a sign '3 minutes to gate 11' - panic, we waddled faster ....... obviously we made it!
Our hostel was interesting, we had bunk beds - I bagsied the bottom (using my 'age card').
We had a relaxing evening, went out for a meal, bought a bottle of Lambrusco and sat, drinking, on the hotel terrace before taking showers.

15th September
6.00 alarm
7.00 taxi
7.10 arrive at station
8.23 train
We weren't going to miss this one! But we did nearly forget to get off (we were so busy talking), the train stopped, I said "isn't this our stop?", we had to scrabble all our belongings together ......
HOME, it's good to be home! But I am so tired, all I've done for two days was sit, but I'm shattered.

16th September
Life on the quinta resumed (last week seems like a dream already). I picked THREE BUCKETS of ripe tomatoes and a bucket of apples.
Started processing tomatoes (passata); clean,chop out core, throw in food processor, strain off tomato water (save for drinking/cooking with), boil and simmer, pass through Mouli sieve (to remove skins and seeds), simmer until pulpy, bottle, water bathe for 30 minutes - done! 10lbs of tomates only fills ONE 2L jar.
Made a double batch of chocolate fridge cake as we're invited to Diane's daughter's wedding tomorrow.
It's cooler 30C, much easier on us AND the solar is working, fully charged by lunch time - thus suggesting/confirming(?) that heat was the culprit for our poor summer solar.

17th September
Made a card, unpacked my glass, invited Christine for lunch on Wednesday (to discuss my FIRST COMMISSION!) - must tidy up studio!
2nd wedding this month: apart from Thomas & Diane we only knew Pam & Mark, which isn't good as neither of us are good at approaching strangers. The bride looked radiant, the ceremony was relaxed, an actor friend was officiating (like Joey), the bride whipped out her phone in the middle of the ceremony???? She had her vows written on it - so modern!
Unfortunately food hadn't been served before we had to leave, to put animals away; we intended to return but, when Pam replied to our text ("is there any food left if we come back?) the speeches had started, so we cooked and relaxed at home.

18th September
Continuing processing tomatoes, today I skinned them first 17lbs took me all morning!!!! Note to self: next year grow round tomatoes for bottling as Costoluto Genovese tomatoes are hard to skin as the skins tuck into the creases!

2 x 2L and 1 x 1L jars of passata today.

We're watching a good comedy series in the evenings 'Catastrophe' written by, and starring, Sharon Horgan.

19th September
More tomato processing; this time salad and tomato sauce.
Oh dear, our tenants have given us a month's notice; a shame as they were good and reliable.
It also means we have to stick to a stricter budget; initially that might be fun, but I'm sure it will pall if we don't get new tenants soon.
Pam & Mark put their quinta up for sale in August (200,000€, they bought at the same time as us for less than us), they've actually had a few viewers. I don’t want them to leave (but at that price I'm not really worried).

20th September
I helped Brett get the roofing sheets up on the roof of his pole barn - I'm going to ache tomorrow.

I have a prospective client (Christine) coming for lunch tomorrow; I spent the afternoon in the studio drawing designs.

21st September
Happy Birthday Helen XXX
The morning was spent cleaning and cooking.
I have a definite commission for six panels (transom lights/fanlights above two doors).

22nd September
Into CB to get food as mini-P has shut down for 3 weeks for refurbishing.
We found the craft shop that Karina told me about. I bought some (hobby) glass paint to experiment with until my kiln is working - when I got home I realised I'd bought the wrong stuff, so will have to go back and change it!
I spent the afternoon in the studio practicing glass cutting.

Daft dogs relaxing!!!

23rd September
I'm making a Nautilus shell roundel (I'm doing my version of something I saw on the internet) I cut all the glass today and masked off the centre for sandblasting.
I made chocolate fridge cake as we were invited to C&D's for dinner, Stuart (new neighbour) was the cook.
Brett clad the back of the new barn.
It was a good evening, we ate (well flavored vegetable curries) under the stars (me covered in Deet!), gossiped, drank and put the world to rights.

24th September
We're still harvesting vegetables (even though we have stopped watering)- buckets of tomatoes, the tomatillos have started, aubergines have been good this year, windfall apples (I need to pick them before they all fall off), a bucket of plums, onions

AND ....... SWEET POTATOES!!!!

From one potato I grew about 50 slips (I was giving them away), today we dug up half our harvest OMG with just these we have 50 - 60 pounds and some of them are HUGE.
And now I have to process it all ........

25th September
Only one and three quarters x 2L jars of Passata from one and a half buckets of tomatoes! Homesteading is time consuming work.
Feeling a bit rough as I have earache.


26th September
Still have earache.
We visited M&M today at their new quinta; they have added a strawbale extension to a stone cottage, it's going to be stunning when it's completed.
Processing apples (for chili apple jelly and perhaps some jars with other herbs added), also made beetroot ketchup and fruity chilli ketchup.
Brett, added compost to and, rotorvated the garden where we grew potatoes, it's at the top of the veg garden so shouldn't flood, in preparation for winter sowing.

27th September
Earache really bad, I haven't slept for two nights - I don’t want to go to the doctor!
I carried on processing fruit and veg; today I made .... HOT Chilli Apple Jelly, Plum Jelly, Georgian Plum Sauce, Bottled Plums.

Bap asked Brett to work for a few days, Brett agreed to go in on Thursday and Friday.

28th September
At least I slept last night, ear still painful and deaf (but I didn't go to the doctor).
Today I made water kefir limeade, milk kefir, Brinjal pickle (Brett likes it).
This afternoon Brett suggested we went down (with a bottle of fizzy wine) to introduce ourselves to our new neighbours, we've been meaning to for a while. I looked down at what I was wearing - my favorite dress, but unfortunately with worn holes where my pointy bits are! I searched for something else to wear ..... all I could find was winter clothes and posh frocks, everything else was in the washing. I had to put on the cleanest, dirty, dress I could find; so tomorrow is washing day!  Our new neighbours (Margo and Trish) seem very nice.
Brett is working tomorrow.

29th September
Brett went off to work for 8.00 (not such an early start as mornings are darker).
I did the washing, still feeling crap so that's all I did (well I cooked a chilli too, and fed and watered the animals, and swept and washed the floor, so basically the washing was just my extra task of the day) .....
OMG I've just had a message from Pam - they've accepted an offer on their quinta (she won't tell me how much for), I'm in shock!

30th September
Brett working.
My ear doesn't hurt so much but I still can't hear.
I invited Di to lunch as Chris has now been working for 6 weeks, which was lovely.
Then when Brett came home we all (Us, C&D, Stuart and Bap) all went to the bar.
So a nice sociable day.
While we were putting away the poultry we think Lily was stung/bitten on her foot, she was very distressed, we gave her a half tablet of antihistamine. It took her half an hour to calm down.

1st October
And this morning she's 'as right as rain' ...... oooh rain, we could do with some of that!
Less ear pain but still can't hear!
Marc & Mieke and Vince & Lola were supposed to come for dinner, but I postponed until next Tuesday.

2nd October
We dug up the second lot of sweet potatoes, one weighed over a kilo!

Our new neighbours came to visit (they brought us a sack of dog biscuits, we gave them eggs). They no longer need the dog biscuits as they are convinced that Paddy/Pig (who Gary left behind) has been shot dead; they heard/saw him and another dog sheep worrying, then lots of shouting and yelping, he came home having been beaten. He went out the next day, two shots were heard, and he hasn't been seen since (that was 3 weeks ago).
We took the dogs for a walk down to the river, most of it was bone dry with a few shallow stagnant pools.

3rd October
We went into CB town centre, I bought some sticky backed plastic from the craft shop (the stuff from Casas China was useless) to use as a mask for sandblasting. This afternoon I had great fun playing (experimenting) with my sandblaster.
Nick is back from the UK I'm hoping he might be able to solve my kiln - generator problem.
Brett dug out the foundations for the shed he's building to house the hot water boiler ..... once it's built we'll be putting in a proper shower!!!!
This evening we had guests for dinner (Vince & Lola and M&M). I cooked some marinated turkey and sweet potatoes in the gas oven, it took two and a half hours for it all to cook, we kept turning it up but all that did was burn more at the bottom - I hate this oven! Apart from that it was a fun evening, except I was sworn to secrecy on P&M's quinta sale, I was bursting to tell them).

4th October
Slight hangover ......
I did more sandblasting and leaded up the roundel I'm making, tomorrow I will solder it.

5th October
Roundel soldered .......

Brett has been looking at generators so I might be able to do kiln work soon.

6th October
Roundel cemented (my least favorite job!).

Well we had a surprise this afternoon ......

we didn't realise the ewe was pregnant (she had a lamb 8 months ago, we had been told that they gave birth twice a year).
Watch a really weird film 'Kill List', I don’t get what it was all about - I even looked the plot up on the internet and am still confused!

7th October
Happy Birthday Jo xxx
Today was fun, I did a load of sandblasting,

Brett put in a concrete floor for the boiler shed, then we went to the bar.......